Liquid filling machine



Octe 11, 1938.

J. D. LE FRANK LIQUID FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1935 ,y /M N :nm/J ..0 Z a M Vu .y o z WM w ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 11, 1938 LIQUID FILLING MACHINE John Daniel Le Frank, Maplewood, N. J., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 3, v1935, Serial No. 39,060

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to filling ma chines having one orjmcre lling head units for lling liquids into cans orcontainers, and has particular referenceto devices for iiushing out or 4 washing the filling head after a lling operation.

An object of the present invention is the provision of flushing devices for` liquid filling machines, the filling heads of which may have movable parts which may become more o-r less sticky and gummed upl when filling certain liquids such as beer, carbonated waters, syrups and the like, the flushing devices operating after each ll to iiush or wash oli the filling head and particularly its movable `parts so as to insure continued free operation and to prevent the formation of foam in a can during a subsequent filling operation, by removing all adhering liquid and foam from the head just before introducing the liquid into the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as itis better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan View of a liquid filling machine embodying the instant invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the lower portion of a liquid lling head showing a filled can held in filling position in the head by suitable can supporting devices; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the 'broken line 3 3 in Fig. 1 and showing the flushing device inr detail.

A preferred embodiment of the instant invention which is disclosed` in the drawing is incorpo-- rated in a well known type of multiple head lling machine for filling liquids into cans and hence only suflicient of the filling machine is illustrated to impart a clear understanding of the relation of the invention inr such a machine and to show the cooperation between associated parts.

Empty open mouth cans d are fed into the machineby a continuously rotating turret which places the cans in timed order on separate vertically movable lifter pads which carry the cans through a circular path of travel in the machine. While being thus carried, each can is lifted vertically by its associated pad .so that its upper open end isclamped againstthe bottom of a suitable lling head. While so clamped the liquid is filled into vthe can.

l During this lling operation the can is vented by way of a vent tube disposed in the filling head. The lower end of the tube is protected against the entrance of liquid or foam, as the liquid rises in the can, by a ball float valve confined in a cage and located adjacent the lower end of the tube. 5f

Thus it is when the liquid rises Vin the can and completely fills it that the ballis floated so that itmoves against'the end of the tube which is thereby closed, the ball being completely surrounded by liquid or substantially so and as long as it is in this condition `it continues to block olifV the tube.

After iilling, the supply of liquid is cut off by a suitable valve and the lifter pad .is returned tolowered p-osition. AThe can descending with the pad is thus removed from the lling head and is discharged from the machine by a suitable clischarge mechanism. Descent of the can from the head removes the liquid which sustains the ball float and the latter drops down in its cage and away from the end of the vent tube.

When the liquid being lled into the can is of a sticky nature or of a nature which becomes that way in the air such as beer, carbonated Water, syrup or the like, the film of liquid left on the ball may later cause trouble, if allowed to remain, by making the Yball stick in the cage or against the end of the vent tube. Such a sticking prevents free movement of the ball and renders it inoperativey as a float valve.

If the ball sticks against the end of the` vent tube during a filling operation the can would be improperly vented. Sticking of the ball in the cage leaving the vent tube open would permit the liquid or foam on top of the liquid to enter and Vobstruct the tube. In the latter case, following the filling action and with the liquid or foam remaining in the tube such would be injected into an empty can just before the next filling. Such a foam already in a can would start an unnecessary foaming of the liquid during the iilling operation.

.In order to prevent this sticking action of the ball float in accordance with the present invention, the entire bottom of the filling head includ- 45.

ing the ball and its cage is flushed out or washed with a suitable cleaning agent such as water or steam to remove all traces of the accumulation of the filling liquid orV its foam. This operation is preferably performed after each filled can has 50 been removed from the lling head and before a subsequent can is movedfup into it.

A preferred form of the invention is herein disclosed as being embodied in a iilling machine which comprises in part a table Il (Fig. l) on which the empty cans a are supported as they are individually received in pockets I2 of a continuously rotating turret I3. This turret is carried on the upper end of a vertical shaft I4 which may be suitably journaled in bearings formed in the table. The turret advances the cans over the table and transfers each can onto a lifter pad I5 (see also Fig. 2) these pads being carried in a movable part of the machine. The cans are guided and held in the turret pockets I2 during this movement and prior thereto by a curved guide rail I6 which is secured to the top of the table II.

There are a plurality of lifter pads I5 in the present disclosure, these being arranged to move in a circle and each pad is secured to a vertically movable rod Il (Fig. 2). The rods II may be carried in a suitable carrier frame which is moved continually andin proper time to advance the cans for proper lling. A can when positioned on its lifter pad is centralized and held by a bracket I9 which may be supported by the carrier frame or in other suitable manner.

The can a is raised by its lifter pad I5 into engagement with a tubular filling head unit 2I (Fig. 2). There are as many filling head units as there are lifter pads, a head being vertically disposed above its associated pad.

The lower end of the filling head unit 2| carries a rubber or other resilient ring 25 which is held in place by an encircling sleeve or collar 26. This collar is threaded on to the head unit. The upper, preferably flanged edge of the can body wall engages against this rubber ring, when the can is brought into the head unit and this temporarily seals off the can interior for the liquid filling operation. A

While the can is in this sealed off position and while it is being carried along its path of travel through the machine, liquid is filled into the can. The liquid may be introduced into the can by way of suitable filling tubes 28 (Fig. 2) the details of this feature being immaterial to the present invention. The lower end of each tube is confined in a bore 29 formed in a head bottom p-late 3I which is threaded into the lower end of the tubular head unit 2I. The bores 29 communicate directly with the can interior.

Liquid entering the can by way of the tubes 28 and bores 29 is deflected against the can body side wall by a deflector disc 33 in such a manner as a minimize foaming of the liquid. This disc is located directly under and spaced away from the bottom plate 3l. At its center the disc is provided with a tubular hub 35 which is threaded into the side wall of a recess 36 formed in the bottom plate. This connection holds the disc in place.

While the liquid is being filled into the can, the latter is vented to permit the escape of any counterpressure or trapped air, introduced gas or whatever may be in the unfilled can. The venting is effected by way of a central tube 4I, the lower end of which communicates with the can interior. This end is confined in a bore formed in the bottom 3| and located at the apex of a conical ceiling or top wall 42 of the recess 36.

To insure proper filling in a filling machine of this kind it is essential that the vent tube be kept unobstructed during venting and that the v entrance of liquid or foam as it rises in the can be prevented. For this purpose a float valve having a ball float 45 is located directly under the lower end of the vent tube. The ball is confined against displacement but freely movable vertically in a cage 46 the walls of which are formed as a part of the deiiector disc hub 35.

The rising liquid entering the can during the filling operation reaches the level of the cage 46 and then enters through a plurality of openings 41 formed in its side wall and bottom. This liquid floats the ball and lifts it against the open lower end of the vent tube thereby sealing the tube against entrance of the still rising liquid or foam.

It should be understood that at this stage of the filling operation the can is nearly filled and further venting is unnecessary. The filling operation, however, continues until the can is completely filled and the liquid passes up into the filling head and completely covers the ball fioat.

When the can is completely lled, suitable valve devices stop further flow of the liquid. The can may then be lowered to its original position by descent of the lifter pad I5 as the liquid which has filled up in the filling tubes remains there and the displacement of the disc 33 and cage parts 46 in the liquid in the can is sufficient to prevent spilling over when the filled can is removed from the head.

The filled can is delivered adjacent a discharge device which carries it away to any suitable place of deposit. This in many installations would be to a double seamer or other type of closing machine. A combined double seamer receiving and a filler discharge device is shown in Fig. 1. This may comprise a cam actuated finger 5I which engages behind the can and transfers it from the lifter pad I5 to a stationary table 52 across which it is conveyed between gui-de rails 53, 54.

. Before a new can is brought into the filling head for subsequent filling, the ball 45, its cage 46, the disc 33 and the bottom plate 3| are washed off to Vremove the residual liquidV and foam. To do this the filling head unit passes over the upper end of a vertical pipe 62 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is carried in the can guide rail 54, and which connects with a suitable supply of cleaning fluid such as water, steam, etc. In the instant case water is graphically indicated, see Fig. 3.

A normally closed push Valve 63 is connected in the pipeline 62 and is engaged and opened as the head passes over the pipe. When the valve is opened a spray of water is discharged against the ball and iilling head unit thus cleaning off any of the liquid which may have adhered there-- to after the filling operation. The valve may be actuated by a cam 64 carried on a shaft 65 which may be rotated in time with the other moving parts of the machine, the construction being such that the cam 64 opens the water valve 63 when there is no can under the filling head, and so as to wash the filling heads, one after another, at this time.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a filling head adapted to receive a container to be filled, means in said head for filling liquid into the container while in the head, an upwardly and downwardly movable air-escape valve element in said head, and means disposed below the filling head and operative in an upward direction for removing liquid and foam adhering to said filling head and for releasing said valve element when obstructed, following each filling operation.

2. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a filling head adapted to receive a container to be filled, means in said head for filling liquid into the container while in the head, a valve element in said head, and means disposed below the filling head and operative in an upward direction for removing liquid and foam adhering to said valve element and the filling head parts adjacent thereto, and for releasing said valve element following each filling operation.

3. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a filling head adapted to receive a container to be filled, means in said head for filling yliquid into the container while in the head, instrumentalities for venting the container as the liquid flows therein, a float valve associated with said venting instrumentalities and actuated by the liquid as it fills into the container for closing off said vent instrumentalities against -entrance of liquid therein, and means disposed below the filling head and operative in an upward direction for removing liquid and foam adhering to said float valve and the filling head parts adjacentl thereto, and for releasing said valve element following each filling operation.

4. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a filling head adapted to receive a container to be filled, a valve in said head for controlling the filling of liquid into the container while in the head, means for projecting a cleaning agent against said valve for removing liquid and foam adhering to the same following a lling operation, and elements associated with said liquid and foam removing means for controlling their operation after each filling operation.

5. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of' a filling head adapted to receive'a container to be filled, a valve in said head for controlling the filling of liquid into the container while in the head, means for spraying a cleaning fluid against said valve for removing liquid and foam adhering to the same following a filling operation, a second valve associated with said liquid and foam removing means for controlling the operation thereof, and means for actuating said second mentioned valve after each filling operation.

6. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a filling head adapted to receive a container to be filled, a valve in said head for controlling the filling of liquid into the container while in the head, means for spraying a cleaning fiuid against said valve for removing liquid and foam adhering to the same following a filling operation, a second valve associated with said liquid and foam removing means for controlling the operation thereof, a conveyor for moving said filling head along a path of travel including the zone of said liquid and foam removing means, and means for actuating said second mentioned valve.

7. In a can filling machine the combination of elevating pads for cans to be filled, a filling head having a movable valve for the exit of air from the can as it is filled, means for washing said valve after each filling operation to prevent the subsequent sticking of the valv-e, and means for operating said Washing means when it and the filling head are in registry after the removal of the filled can.

8. In a can filling machine the combination of a carrier for cans to be filled, a filling head having a movable valve for the exit of air from the can as the can is filled, means for washing said valve after a filling operation to prevent subsequent sticking of the valve, and means for operating said washing means when it and the filling head are in registryr after the removal of the filled can.

9. In a can'filling machine th-e combination of a carrier for cans to be filled, a filling head having a confined, gravitating valve for the exit of air from the can as the can is filled, means for washing said valve after a filling operation to prevent the subsequent sticking of the valve, and

means for operating said washing'means when it and the filling head are in registry after the removal of the fill-ed can.

10. In a can filling machine the combination of a carrier for cans to be filled, a filling head having a cage containing a gravitating ball valve for the exit of air from the can as the can is filled, means for washing said cage and valve after a filling operation to prevent the subsequent sticking of the valve, and means for operating said washing means when it and the filling head are in registry after the removal of the filled can.

11. In a can filling machine the combination of a carrier for cans to be filled, a filling head having a cage provided with an aperture in its bottom and a ball in said cage to open said aperture for the exit of air from the can as the can is filled, means for washing said valve after a filling operation to prevent the subsequent sticking of the valve, and means for operating said washing means when it and the filling head are in registry after the removal of the filled can, said washing means acting on the cage and on the bottom of the ball through said aperture to loosen said ball.

JOHN DANIEL LE FRANK. 

